Who's in It: Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Heder, Jacinda Barrett, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller
The Basics: A do-nothing loser (Napoleon Dynamite's Heder, just sort of being that guy again) who's a washout with the ladies, especially the one he wants (Barrett), goes to a secret school run by Bad Santa (Thornton). 50% funny, 50% lame.
What's the Deal? Thornton had better watch out so that he's not constantly cast in movies in which he's a cold-hearted–but–hilarious jerk, or else he might get lost in there. Not that he's not funny to watch. But this is, like, the half-dozenth movie he's done where he's been that guy. He could use a break from it. Or else a movie with a funnier script.
The 50% Lame vs. the 50% Funny: The first half is pretty great because it's where most of the cruelty happens. The paintball scenes are Jackass-level funny. Then it turns into a vengeful battle between the two men, but with diminishing returns. And the romance? Boring. Wait for cable.
Fringe Funny: Have a weak script? Patch up the dull with cool, funny supporting people such as David Cross and Sarah Silverman. That's what goes on here. And when they're on-screen, you wish they'd just have their own movie.
Where You've Seen Her Before: Think back to The Real World: London, way back in the mid-1990s. That's where Barrett first popped up, as a star in the first officially dull season of that pioneering reality series.